Raden Patah facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Raden Patah 靳文
First Sultan of Demak
Coinage of Raden Patah (15th–16th century), Sumatran Numismatic Museum.
Reign	1475–1518
Coronation	1518
Successor	Pati Unus
Born	1455 Jepara, Majapahit Kingdom
Died	1518 Demak, Demak Sultanate
Burial	Demak Mosque, Demak, Demak Sultanate
Spouse	Solekha
Issue	Raden Kikin Ratu Mas Nyawa Raden Surya Raden Trenggana
Full name Jin Wen
Dynasty	Demak
Religion	Sunni Islam

Raden Patah, also known as Jin Bun (Javanese: ꦫꦢꦺꦤ꧀ꦦꦠꦃ; Chinese: 靳文; pinyin: Jìn wén), was a very important leader in Javanese history. Born in 1455 in Jepara, he became the first sultan of the Demak Sultanate. He ruled from 1475 until his death in 1518.

At first, Demak was a smaller state under the powerful Majapahit Empire. But Raden Patah helped Demak grow stronger. By 1478, Demak became independent from Majapahit. The respected Wali Sanga, a group of wise Islamic scholars, officially named him the Sultan of Demak. He took the title Panembahan Jimbun.

Some historians, like Merle Calvin Ricklefs, suggest that Raden Patah might have been connected to a Chinese Muslim named Cek-ko-po. This Cek-ko-po is believed to have founded the Demak Sultanate. Another historian, Tomé Pires, mentioned "Pate Rodim" as the ruler of Demak who also controlled the Palembang area. Raden Patah was succeeded by his son, Pati Unus, and later by Trenggana.

Who Was Raden Patah?

Raden Patah had several names, showing his mixed background. He was sometimes called Praba or Raden Bagus Kasan (Hasan). His Chinese name was Jin Bun (Chinese: 靳文; pinyin: Jìn wén). This name means "strong person" and is similar to the Arabic name "Fatah," which means "victory."

He was also known as Senapati Jimbun or Panembahan Jimbun. He held the grand title Sultan Syah Alam Akbar al-Fatah. Chinese records from the Sam Poo Kong Temple in Semarang confirm his Chinese name, Jin Bun. This was because his mother was Chinese.

Raden Patah's Early Life

There are different stories about where Raden Patah came from. These stories often link him to the powerful Majapahit Empire and to Chinese heritage.

One popular story, from the Babad Tanah Jawi, says Raden Patah was the son of Bhre Kertabhumi, the last king of Majapahit. His mother was a Chinese concubine, the daughter of a man named Kyai Batong. After Raden Patah was born, his mother married Arya Damar, who then became Raden Patah's adoptive father. From this second marriage, Raden Kusen was born, making him Raden Patah's half-brother.

Another record, Purwaka Caruban Nagari, names Raden Patah's mother as Siu Ban Ci. She was the daughter of Tan Go Hwat and Siu Te Yo from Gresik. Tan Go Hwat was a trader and scholar.

Chinese records from the Sam Poo Kong temple also say Raden Patah's nickname when he was young was Jin Bun. They state he was the son of Kung-ta-bu-mi (another name for Bhre Kertabhumi), the Majapahit king, and a Chinese concubine. This concubine was later given to Swan Liong in Palembang, who was also of Chinese descent. Swan Liong and the concubine then had Kin San (Raden Kusen). These Chinese records say Jin Bun was born in 1455.

Even with different versions, all stories suggest that Raden Patah had strong connections to Majapahit, China, Gresik, and Palembang.

How the Demak Sultanate Began

The Babad Tanah Jawi tells us that Raden Patah did not want to become the Duke of Palembang. Instead, he left for Java with his half-brother, Raden Kusen. In Java, they studied with Sunan Ampel in Surabaya, a respected Islamic scholar.

Later, Raden Kusen joined the Majapahit government. Raden Patah, however, moved to Central Java. There, he cleared the Glagahwangi forest and started a religious school, known as a pesantren. This school grew very quickly.

The Majapahit king, Bhre Kertabhumi, became worried about Raden Patah's growing influence. He asked Raden Kusen, who was now the Duke of Terung, to bring Raden Patah to Majapahit. The king was impressed by Raden Patah and accepted him as his son. Raden Patah was then made a regent, a local ruler. The Glagahwangi area was renamed Demak, and its capital was called Bintara.

Chinese records also mention that Jin Bun (Raden Patah) moved from Surabaya to Demak in 1475. He then took control of Semarang in 1477, making it part of Demak. This worried the Majapahit king. But thanks to the advice of Bong Swi Hoo (Sunan Ampel), the king recognized Jin Bun as his son and made him the official ruler of Bintoro (Demak).

Demak and Majapahit: A Time of Change

Stories in old Javanese texts, like Babad Tanah Jawi, describe a conflict between Demak and Majapahit. At first, Sunan Ampel told Raden Patah not to fight Majapahit, even though they had different religions, because the king was still Raden Patah's father.

However, after Sunan Ampel passed away, Raden Patah is said to have attacked Majapahit. The king of Majapahit, Brawijaya, is said to have disappeared during this attack. To help the new religion, Sunan Giri reportedly ruled Majapahit for 40 days.

Chinese records also mention a war between Jin Bun (Raden Patah) and Kung-ta-bu-mi (the Majapahit king) in 1478. This war happened after the death of Bong Swi Hoo (Sunan Ampel). Jin Bun attacked the Majapahit capital. The king was captured but treated with respect and moved to Demak. After this, Majapahit became a state under Demak's control, ruled by a Chinese Muslim regent.

Some historians, like Prof. N. J. Krom and Prof. Moh. Yamin, have a different idea. They believe that it was not Demak that attacked Majapahit during King Brawijaya V's time. Instead, they suggest King Girindrawardhana attacked Majapahit in 1478. After this, Girindrawardhana became king. The war between Demak and Majapahit, they say, happened later, during the time of King Brawijaya VII.

These different accounts show that the end of Majapahit and the rise of Demak were complex events. It's clear that Raden Patah played a key role in establishing Demak as a powerful new sultanate on Java.

Raden Patah's Rule

Raden Patah is known as the first king of the Sultanate of Demak. He had many titles, including Senapati Jimbun Ningrat Ngabdurahman Panembahan Palembang Sayidin Panatagama. The name Patah comes from "al-Fatah," meaning "The Opening," because he was the first sultan on the island of Java.

In 1479, Raden Patah officially opened the Great Mosque of Demak. This mosque became the center of his government. He also introduced a royal law book called Salokantara. Raden Patah was known for being very tolerant of other religions. For example, the Sam Poo Kong Temple in Semarang, which was founded by the Muslim Admiral Cheng Ho, was not forced to become a mosque again.

Tomé Pires wrote in his book Suma Oriental that in 1507, Raden Patah (Pate Rodin) opened the newly fixed Demak Grand Mosque. Later, in 1512, his son-in-law, Pati Unus, who was the regent of Jepara, attacked the Portuguese in Malacca.

Pati Unus is also mentioned in Chinese records as Yat Sun, who attacked foreigners in Moa-lok-sa in 1512. Both Portuguese and Chinese sources agree that Demak's fleet was defeated in this battle.

According to Chinese records, Jin Bun (Raden Patah) died in 1518 when he was 63 years old. His son, Yat Sun, who is known as Pangeran Sabrang Lor in Babad Tanah Jawi, became the next ruler.